The Spaniard missed last week’s two-day test with a blocked intestine on his arrival at Phillip Island.

But he was back in the groove yesterday as he bids to regain the World Superbike crown he won two years ago.

He surprised himself in smashing almost 0.75secs off the lap record, clocking 1min 31.059secs on his Alstare Ducati.

Checa said: “I’m extremely happy with the results. It was a nice surprise to make the fastest lap, with everybody riding in the same conditions. I honestly didn’t believe that we’d be at this level at this point. I thought I’d finish about seventh.

“Working on this new project right now is one of the most satisfying moments of my life.

“It is an exciting challenge and these results show that the bike has great potential.”

He can relax ahead of the first official practice on Friday safe in the knowledge he has his bike geared to the circuit and that he is fully fit.

That is not the case for Tom Sykes, who missed the title last season by just half a point to the now retired Max Biaggi.

He is still sore with the cracked wrist and bruised ribs he suffered in a high side off his Kawasaki.